Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
This was AMAZING!
I loved every moment of this beautiful, magical journey! Anastasia's character was so intriguing and developed so well throughout the story! The pacing was perfect, the action scenes jam packed. I loved the chemistry between Damien and Anastasia and the ending was beyond perfect. This was my first Sophie Lark read, and it definitely won't be my last! She is a magnificent storyteller.
I loved every moment of this beautiful, magical journey! Anastasia's character was so intriguing and developed so well throughout the story! The pacing was perfect, the action scenes jam packed. I loved the chemistry between Damien and Anastasia and the ending was beyond perfect. This was my first Sophie Lark read, and it definitely won't be my last! She is a magnificent storyteller.
it felt like the build up dragged on forever I had to fast forward through a lot of this book
I can't speak much to how historically accurate this book is, but overall I liked it, but didn't love it. The storytelling dragged a bit with certain minute aspects expounded upon to an almost unnecessary degree. I also couldn't find a way to connect with either of the central characters or their romance. It often felt like all they were bound together by was this interesting magical pull, but that was it. It wasn't quite enough for me.
This story was one that was full of so many emotions and it was beautifully done. I don’t see it as a retelling or even a romantic story but a story of what could have been, and great fantasy read. It gives us Anastasia in various stages growing up, finding and discovering magic, the conflicts she encounters, and so much more. The strength she possesses is phenomenal and the story is so descriptive you feel as if you are a part of it living it with the characters, yet at times it could be daunting for me because I’m a romance reader and the steam and connection doesn’t come for a long time plus the author is creating this world using history and fantasy to weave this epic reads. Open your mind and enjoy this fantasy read because it is one that is beautiful.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall this was a good read, but it was SO LONG! It is not the it necessarily dragged on, just took a long time to get through. The narration had a habit of starting a story, then recollecting a memory, and then returning to the present story. This isn't necessarily bad, just took some getting used to!
Also, please check CWs if you might have triggers for violence!
I'm not going to lie, I was REALLY taken aback when Anastasia went back in time. I had to stop reading for a bit before coming back to it because it just felt so out of left field. In the end, I think it worked out, but it was so jarring when that happened for me!
Also, please check CWs if you might have triggers for violence!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual violence
HOLY SHIT THIS BOOK WAS AMMMMMMAAAZZZZING!!!!!!!!! It was not what I thought it was going to be and for that I am great full. I thought it would be like the movie adaptation, it Sophie Lark hit this out of the ballpark. The world building of Russia being part modern times with olden times was perfection. The clothing descriptions alone were to die for along with the pictures in the book. I loved how you got to see the beging of Anastasia and Damien’s relation and watch them grow as individuals and as lovers. You see them develop a friendship first and then it turns to love. The plot twist with Rasputin being a vampire I did not see and I liked how different he was from the typical vampires that are being portrayed today. Another plot twist I did not see coming was that Rasputin won and you see Anastasia grow as not only a person but as a leader, realizing that he people come before her. Then when Damien died sacrificing himself to kill Rasputin I was in tears. But only for Anastasia and part of Rasputin to time travel back through the memory keeper to have to do all that all over again, man it was a wild ride. I starte this book in e-book formate and I knew I would love it that I bought a physical copy and it might just be one of my new favorite books. The one complaint I have is that I wish the pictures were in color in the physical formate because in e-book the colors were so vibrate and beautiful. This book in general was just vibrate in color, character development, love, growing up, death, just everything was amazing. I now want to read everything by Sophie Lark because of her other books are half as book as Anastasia then I might have found a new favorite author.
I really enjoyed the book overall. I’d probably give it 3.5-4 stars. I appreciated the seemingly well-researched historical details that that she seamlessly wove into the story. I thought the illustrations were gorgeous (I read the ebook so they were full-color illustrations). I also thought it was cool that she included a suggested playlist (I didn’t use it, but I thought that was a unique touch that I don’t see super often). I thought that the author did a great job at developing the atmosphere of the book. I appreciated getting to read how Anastasia’s character developed and matured over the years and how her perspectives changed as she grew up. I thought the romance, had some really nice and beautifully-written moments as well. I also enjoyed the dual POV!
I think my main complaint was that it was marketed as primarily a fantasy romance retelling of Anastasia ; however, the romance was definitely more of a subplot and it was suuuuuper slow-burn. I usually like a slow burn; however, really we only get glimpses of their relationship throughout most of the book (you don’t really get much of the romance aspect until probably about 70% in). I just wanted a bit more in that area because I loved the scenes we did get of them together. I feel like we did not get to know Damien as well as I would have liked to; though, I guess that’s fair considering that the book is about Anastasia, after all. It was definitely more of a coming of age novel with a bit of fantasy and romance thrown in rather than a fantasy romance. Some parts were a little slow, but they were still interesting to read and important to the story as well (for her character development, fleshing out the other characters so there was bigger emotional impact, developing the magic system, incorporating history, and atmosphere-setting, etc.). I generally love a thick book, but do feel like this one could have probably been a little shorter. Again, I did enjoy it a lot overall. I think I just went into it expecting something a bit different.
*MAJOR SPOILERS*
I thought the incorporation of magic and vampires was a very interesting twist and that Rasputin’s character was a compelling villain. I was somewhat disappointed by the ending because I did not love the time-jump twist at the end being the way she got her happy ending. I do think it was an interesting twist and a clever use of her magical gifts; however, I was disappointed that it erased her scars and made Damien forget their precious shared moments and marriage. It just seemed like she got her family back, but at the cost of the life she was building with the man she loved and married. Like, yes, technically she still got to be with him…but it wasn’t the same version of him that she had grown to truly love and chose to marry. He didn’t have the same experiences that shaped him and their relationship as the other version of him. (Though, I did appreciate that there were moments where it seemed like past and present could collide to allow him to glimpse their alternate life/shared history). I would’ve preferred a happy ending with the original trajectory rather than the ending we got after the time jump twist. I think I’ll just pretend it’s an alternate ending.
I think my main complaint was that it was marketed as primarily a fantasy romance retelling of Anastasia ; however, the romance was definitely more of a subplot and it was suuuuuper slow-burn. I usually like a slow burn; however, really we only get glimpses of their relationship throughout most of the book (you don’t really get much of the romance aspect until probably about 70% in). I just wanted a bit more in that area because I loved the scenes we did get of them together. I feel like we did not get to know Damien as well as I would have liked to; though, I guess that’s fair considering that the book is about Anastasia, after all. It was definitely more of a coming of age novel with a bit of fantasy and romance thrown in rather than a fantasy romance. Some parts were a little slow, but they were still interesting to read and important to the story as well (for her character development, fleshing out the other characters so there was bigger emotional impact, developing the magic system, incorporating history, and atmosphere-setting, etc.). I generally love a thick book, but do feel like this one could have probably been a little shorter. Again, I did enjoy it a lot overall. I think I just went into it expecting something a bit different.
*MAJOR SPOILERS*
I thought the incorporation of magic and vampires was a very interesting twist and that Rasputin’s character was a compelling villain. I was somewhat disappointed by the ending because I did not love the time-jump twist at the end being the way she got her happy ending. I do think it was an interesting twist and a clever use of her magical gifts; however, I was disappointed that it erased her scars and made Damien forget their precious shared moments and marriage. It just seemed like she got her family back, but at the cost of the life she was building with the man she loved and married. Like, yes, technically she still got to be with him…but it wasn’t the same version of him that she had grown to truly love and chose to marry. He didn’t have the same experiences that shaped him and their relationship as the other version of him. (Though, I did appreciate that there were moments where it seemed like past and present could collide to allow him to glimpse their alternate life/shared history). I would’ve preferred a happy ending with the original trajectory rather than the ending we got after the time jump twist. I think I’ll just pretend it’s an alternate ending.
- Ngl it’s a bit slow going into. But most fantasy is
- lots of characters…. Hard to keep straight the relationships
- it’s cute how she’s crushing on him. Asking Dimitri to take Damien into his unit so he’s safer
- I hope Felix and irina get together… I’m nervous for them….
- I love their first dance. Their bickering
- ooo Damian pov. I didn’t think we’d get it
- awww her giving him a cheek kiss. Him all agonized
- I love Artemis and her sass
- IS her mother having an affair with Rasputin?? I’d like to believe her parents are faithful to each other
- huh. I wasn’t expecting vampires to be part of this story. I thought it was fantasy not supernatural
- oh …. I feel so bad for Rasputin…
- I get bad vibes from tatiana. Idk why
- Felix ☹️
- do ollie and axel atleast get a Hea
- lots of characters…. Hard to keep straight the relationships
- it’s cute how she’s crushing on him. Asking Dimitri to take Damien into his unit so he’s safer
- I hope Felix and irina get together… I’m nervous for them….
- I love their first dance. Their bickering
- ooo Damian pov. I didn’t think we’d get it
- awww her giving him a cheek kiss. Him all agonized
- I love Artemis and her sass
- IS her mother having an affair with Rasputin?? I’d like to believe her parents are faithful to each other
- huh. I wasn’t expecting vampires to be part of this story. I thought it was fantasy not supernatural
- oh …. I feel so bad for Rasputin…
- I get bad vibes from tatiana. Idk why
- Felix ☹️
- do ollie and axel atleast get a Hea
3.5 stars. this book is worth reading and it will make you feel things but it is almost guaranteed to be Not What You Think It Is.
1. this is marketed as smut and it’s not. it’s almost 900 pages and i think there are maybe 10 scenes.
2. every observation through anya’s eyes about the cossacks was giving “white person observing indigenous joy or freedom for the first time”.
3. i wanted this to be more about magic than it was about a white woman’s view of russian history where you don’t know what she changed to make it fit her story. i feel like i would far rather have just a place you made up and can tell me about than constantly be pulled out of the story wondering what actually happened and what you’re fudging because you only read history that’s written in a language you can personally read.
4. the main character is gripping. watching her growth and development felt thorough and important and good.
5. probably 20% of this book could have been cut out — mainly all the geopolitical intrigue and endless historical explanations from the narrative view of someone who canonically did not care about those things at the point in the timeline that the explanations were being given.
6. i don’t respect authors who lay out major character death as inevitable and then don’t keep their word. this story should not have had a happily ever after at the end.
7. the writing, when not droning on and on about history, was masterful, rich, and easy to disappear into.
1. this is marketed as smut and it’s not. it’s almost 900 pages and i think there are maybe 10 scenes.
2. every observation through anya’s eyes about the cossacks was giving “white person observing indigenous joy or freedom for the first time”.
3. i wanted this to be more about magic than it was about a white woman’s view of russian history where you don’t know what she changed to make it fit her story. i feel like i would far rather have just a place you made up and can tell me about than constantly be pulled out of the story wondering what actually happened and what you’re fudging because you only read history that’s written in a language you can personally read.
4. the main character is gripping. watching her growth and development felt thorough and important and good.
5. probably 20% of this book could have been cut out — mainly all the geopolitical intrigue and endless historical explanations from the narrative view of someone who canonically did not care about those things at the point in the timeline that the explanations were being given.
6. i don’t respect authors who lay out major character death as inevitable and then don’t keep their word. this story should not have had a happily ever after at the end.
7. the writing, when not droning on and on about history, was masterful, rich, and easy to disappear into.
Absolutely everything we need in an epic fantasy / retelling , magic romance !! Sophie Lark delivers it all honey !! I’m in love with all this gorgeous thickkkkkk book has to offer !! 10 out of 10 !!